A NetJets Cessna 680 Citation Latitude carrying six people crashed on Loop 20 highway in Laredo, Texas on June 16 while attempting an emergency landing, killing one and injuring five others [1, 2].
The aircraft had departed from San José del Cabo, Mexico, en route to Austin, Texas. While flying, the crew declared an emergency to Laredo Air Traffic Control at 9:58 p.m. CDT, reporting mechanical difficulties and low fuel [1]. Laredo international airport officials said the plane was attempting to divert to Laredo when it went down several miles short of the airfield, striking a passenger vehicle on the highway before coming to rest [1].
One person onboard died at the scene. Authorities identified the deceased as Joshua Baer, 50, a well-known Texas tech entrepreneur and founder of the Austin-based venture capital firm Capital Factory [2]. The other five occupants and the driver of the struck passenger vehicle were hospitalized in stable condition [1].
Bypassers and emergency responders rescued survivors from the wreckage that same night [1, 2]. Laredo police investigator Jose Baeza described the crash as "a tragic event" [1]. Laredo's mayor said, "While the loss of life is deeply regrettable, it is nothing short of a miracle that this tragedy did not become a mass fatality event" [2].
This is NetJets’ first fatal crash since the company began fractional ownership private jets in 1986 and was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998 [2]. NetJets released a statement saying, "Safety is, and has always been, the foundation of everything we do" [2].
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating and has sent the cockpit voice and flight data recorders for analysis [2]. Aviation experts speculate the crash may have been caused by fuel exhaustion or a fuel leak, as the jet’s typical range is about 3,000 miles—roughly three times the distance of this flight [2]. Former FAA and NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti said, "I think they just ran out of altitude and airspeed toward the end there" [2]. Former U.S. Transportation Department inspector general Mary Schiavo remarked, "There may have been a fuel leak since the jet's 3000 miles range is around three times the distance of its planned flight" [2].
NetJets confirmed involvement of their aircraft and pledged cooperation with the ongoing NTSB investigation on June 17 [1, 2]. Further updates are expected as the investigation into the crash continues.
